Interpreting fin count meristics.Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Order level detail.A Large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.Mostly small well-camouflaged cryptic fishes with finger-like pelvic fins on the underside of the head and a long-based spinous dorsal fin joined to a short soft-rayed portion. The spinous part begins with several stiff spines, and the soft-rayed part contains up to 6 rays. Head often with orbital and nasal tentacles. They have internal fertilization and give birth to live young.

Taxonomy

Phylum:

Chordata

Subphylum:

Craniata

Superclass:

Gnathostomata

Class:

Actinopterygii

Order:

Perciformes

Family:

Clinidae

Genus:

Heteroclinus

Species:

eckloniae

General Description

Body long, slender, snout short, steep; first dorsal fin arising above middle of gill cover, usually connected to second dorsal fin; hind margin of second drosal fin connected to base of tail fin; orbital tentacle simple, or with two or more lobes. Head and body brown with dark bands or large spots, throat and belly pale, 3 short, blackish bars from eye. To 11 cm.

Biology

A rare species in Victorian waters.

Habitat

Amongst dense macroalgae on rocky reefs and in tide pools, in depths of 0-20 m.